Atletico Madrid made the trip to Eibar on Saturday evening looking to move level on points with second-place Barcelona.
The visitors led the La Liga clash 3-0 at the interval following goals from Antoine Griezmann and Mario Mandzukic [two].
Eibar improved in the second period and had one back late on through Federico Piovaccari, but it was too little, too late as Atletico recorded victory in routine fashion.
Read how it all unfolded with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Hello all! Sports Mole's live La Liga coverage continues from Eibar as the home side welcome Atletico Madrid. Atletico won the reverse match 2-1 back in August, but this will be their first ever La Liga trip to Ipurua. Can the hosts continue their impressive campaign here?
Eibar were tipped to struggle this season, but a total of 27 points from their 20 matches has left them in eighth spot in the table. They have lost just seven times in the league this term, but they will enter the match off the back of a 1-0 defeat away to Real Sociedad last time out.
Atletico, meanwhile, were dumped out of the Copa del Rey quarter-finals by Barcelona during the week, but they have won four of their last five league matches, including a 3-1 win over Rayo Vallecano last time out. As it stands, they sit third, seven points behind the leaders Real Madrid.
TEAMS
EIBAR: Irureta; Lillo, Navas, Anibarro, Abraham; Errasti, Borja, Manu, Arruabarrena, Berjon; Piovaccari
ATLETICO: Moya; Gamez, Godin, Gimenez, Siqueira; Tiago, Saul, Koke, Garcia; Griezmann, Mandzukic
PREDICTION! Read what I had to say about this match here...
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch for the first period. It is pouring down here it must be said! The home side get the first 45 minutes of action underway in Eibar.
The pitch is really impacting this match in the early stages, with the ball sticking each time it is played forward. It has been a fast start from both teams, but neither has taken control of the ball thus far.
This is a real test of Atletico's credentials - a tough test against a tough team on a poor pitch. Not too much to report in terms of chances thus far, but the visitors are attempting to force the issue.
GOAL! Eibar 0-1 Atletico (Griezmann)
Breakthrough Atletico! Griezmann sends the visitors ahead as he fires one into the bottom corner following excellent work from Garcia. That is now 11 league goals for Griezmann this term.
It is like a Sunday League pitch, with the weather to match, but Atletico are playing their football. Eibar attempt to respond as Borja fires one from distance, but it moves high of the crossbar.
The referee has been more involved than he would have liked in the last couple of minutes following a number of late challenges, but there have been no bookings inside the opening 13 minutes here.
Half-chance for the home side as Lillo delivers a dangerous cross towards the far post, but the referee awards Atletico a free kick after Moya is bundled over inside the box. Not too much to report in terms of chances in the last few minutes, but Atletico look the most likely to add to the scoring.
BOOKING! Griezmann (Atletico) is booked for a late challenge on Errasti.
BOOKING! Griezmann (Atletico) is booked for a late challenge on Errasti.
Manu takes the resulting free kick, but his effort was always moving wide of the post.
Much better from the home side in the last couple of minutes as Errasti strikes another effort from outside the box, but his effort clears the crossbar. Atletico have started to give away a series of free kicks in dangerous areas and Eibar are looking dangerous. Still 1-0 with 21 minutes played.
GOAL! Eibar 0-2 Atletico (Mandzukic)
Atletico have their second goal of the match as Mandzukic converts a cross from Griezmann. Clever finish from the Croatian, who has given Atletico a really comfortable lead here.
BOOKING! Piovaccari (Eibar) is booked for a late challenge on Koke.
GOAL! Eibar 0-3 Atletico (Mandzukic)
Game over! Atletico have their third of the match and Mandzukic has his second as the forward thrashes home from inside the box following terrible defending from the home side.
Before Eibar know it, they are three goals behind here and it could yet get a lot worse.
BOOKING! Garcia (Atletico) is booked for a late challenge on Errasti.
Mandzukic again threatens after turning the Elche defence and attempting to fashion a shot on goal, but this time the danger is cleared. Atletico look good for a fourth goal at the moment.
The away side continue to force the issue in the latter stages of the half. Eibar have been good this season, but they look off the pace here and Atletico are not in the mood to stop at three goals.
The referee has been more involved than he would have liked in the last couple of minutes and it is no surprise that there are a number of late challenges on this type of pitch, which is so poor.
Simeone is very animated on the touchline at the moment as Atletico continue to deliver into the Eibar box. It is nothing complicated from the champions, they are simply asking questions with some crosses from wide areas. Another goal at this stage would end Eibar's already-slim hopes of a comeback.
Much better from the home side in the last couple of minutes, but they are still struggling to fashion a chance in the final third. In fact, they have not come even a little bit close to registering thus far.
Without sounding like a broken record, this pitch. My word! Talk about a mud-fest here!
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for the home side to register before the break as Manu meets a loose ball inside the Atletico box, but Moya is on hand to make a stunning save. Moments later, however, Manu hits the deck and stays there following a clash of heads with Godin.
CHANCES! Oh my word! Atletico have two glorious chances to score a fourth, but Saul sees his effort saved by Irureta, before the Eibar goalkeeper manages to deny Garcia. Wow!
HALF-TIME: Eibar 0-3 Atletico
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close, with Atletico leading 3-0. In truth, it has been very comfortable for the visitors, with Griezmann opening the scoring before Mandzukic added a brace. Eibar have really struggled to get going on this terrible, terrible pitch here.
STATS! Surprisingly, the possession has been shared thus far, while Eibar have actually had more shots with seven, but just one of those has been on target. Atletico, meanwhile, have scored with three of their five attempts on target. There have also been three bookings thus far.
BENCH WATCH! Eibar certainly have options on their bench this evening, with the likes of Capa, Lara and Lekic all in reserve. Atletico, meanwhile, have options in the shape of Jimenez and Torres.
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch for the second period. Can Eibar find a way back into this match? It is going to be very difficult indeed. The visitors get the action underway.
SUBS! The home side have made two changes at the break, with Javi Lara and Ander Capa replacing Manu and Errasti. Eibar really need some different in this half.
It has been a decent start to the second period from the home side, with Saul firing one just wide of the post following smart work from Capa, who already looks lively in his early involvements.
Not too much from Atletico in the early stages of the second period, with Eibar the team forcing the issue. Lara delivers a dangerous corner from the right, but Navas is just beaten to the ball by Godin. Another corner is delivered from the opposite side, but once again the danger is cleared.
Just a reminder that three points for the away side will move them level on points with second-place Barcelona ahead of the Catalan outfit's clash with Villarreal tomorrow evening. Saul has a half-chance for the home side in a wide area, but his effort curls straight into the arms of Moya.
SUB! Atletico make their first change as Suarez replaces Garcia.
In truth, not too much has happened in this second period in terms of chances. It is not great for the neutral, with Atletico already, surely, securing all the points. Eibar have improved since the interval, but it is difficult to imagine them turning this around, against the champions of Spain.
It is all a little untidy at the moment, with Lekic, who also entered at the break in what seems to have been a triple change, clashing with Godin. No more cards, however, which is a surprise.
Eibar have the chance to threaten from a free kick as Abraham delivers a deep cross towards the far post, but Moya comes a long way to punch clear. Excellent goalkeeping from the Spaniard.
Still no real chances for either side in the second period, but Eibar have been in control, which will please their manager. However, it does nothing to paper over their first-half display.
BOOKING! Saul (Atletico) is booked for a late challenge on Lara.
Half-chance for Mandzukic to score his third following more suspect defending from Eibar and excellent work from Griezmann, but the goalkeeper just does enough to palm clear ahead of the Croatian. Little under 25 minutes of football remaining and Atletico look a threat again.
Eibar continue to threaten from a series of free kicks, but Atletico clear the latest from Abraham as another bright moment comes to an end. Atletico are preparing to make their second change.
SUB! Atletico make their second change as Jimenez replaces Griezmann.
Atletico have regained control of this match in the last 10 minutes or so, which is causing a lot of frustration inside the stadium. There are a number of late challenges occurring, meanwhile.
Siqueira breaks down the right for the away side before delivering a dangerous cross towards the far post, but Abraham is on hand to clear the danger. Little over 15 minutes remaining here.
End-to-end football in the last couple of minutes, with both sides committing numbers in the final third, but neither fashions a clear attempt on goal as the score remains 3-0 Atletico.
BOOKING! Lillo (Eibar) picks up a booking for a really poor challenge on Mandzukic, who had showed excellent feet to turn in a wide area. Poor from Lillo there it must be said.
SUB! Atletico make their third change as Cani replaces Koke.
Not too much to report in terms of chances in the last few minutes, but the away side have regained control of the possession as we approach the final stages of this match. Still 3-0 Atletico here.
Atletico remain in control of the possession in the latter stages of this match. To be blunt, the second period has been a slight non-event. All the damage was done in the opening half of football.
Just a reminder that Barcelona are in action tomorrow evening, with the Catalan outfit welcoming Villarreal to the Camp Nou. The pressure has been placed back on Luis Enrique's side.
Eibar can take heart from their second-half performance, but they have created very little here. The quicker that they can move on from this defeat, the better. They have been outclassed here.
GOAL! Eibar 1-3 Atletico (Piovaccari)
The home side have a late consolation here as Piovacarri converts from close range following a cross from the left. At least the home supporters have something to cheer here!
FULL-TIME: Eibar 1-3 Atletico
So there we have it. Atletico claim all the points with a routine 3-1 win despite a late rally from Eibar. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action. Good evening!
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
